McDonald’s commits $150M to employee educational funds

McDonald’s is beefing up its educational scholarships for employees, allocating $150 million over the next five years for the Archways to Opportunity program.

Beyond the big-bucks staff investment, the global conglomerate will increase employee access to the program by lowering eligibility requirements to 90 days of employment from nine months, and reducing the minimum number of weekly shifts to 15 hours from 20.

Educational benefits also will be opened up to family members of employees.

“This is a huge opportunity for us to provide opportunities to our employees,” said Frank Sandoval, who owns and operates seven restaurants in Colorado, along with an eighth that he owns with his son.

Sandoval started his career with McDonald’s in 1965 as a 16-yearold in Pueblo, staffing the Frenchfry station.

In 1978, with the help and backing of Carter Farrar Sr., the owner of the Pueblo franchise where he worked as a teenager, Sandoval was able to purchase his first franchise.

“I have been very fortunate to have a lot of people help me along the way,” Sandoval said.

Over the years, Sandoval was part of a greater Denver McDonald’s cooperative program that contributed more than $1 million to local employees: high school graduating seniors, who were bound for college.

Since 2015, as part of Archways Opportunity, Sandoval has contributed $34,347 in tuition assistance to 28 participants.

Among the beneficiaries is Sharna Flores, a store manager who has worked for Sandoval for 20 years. Flores, who is married and has five children, had not graduated from high school. The Archways program helped to change that.

“She was able to continue working as restaurant manager, she earned enough credits to receive her high school diploma,” Sandoval said. Flores celebrated the accomplishment at a party with family, friends and colleagues.

“She is very proud of the fact she can say she graduated high school and that she’s being a role model for her children and her employees,” Sandoval said. Now, Flores’ husband, who is also a store manager, is pursuing his high school diploma.

Nationwide, since 2015, Archways to Opportunity has helped more than 24,000 U.S. employees to earn a high school diploma, receive college tuition assistance, access free education advising services and learn English as a second language.

On Thursday McDonald’s announced that the $150 million five-year investment is being “accelerated by savings from the new U.S. tax law,” according to a news release.

“This enhances our commitment to our employees to pursue their educations and to advance their careers,” Sandoval said. “We want to be known for having ‘America’s best first job.’ ”